Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for having such an incredible place to perform my craft in a way that is beneficial to others. The Little Red Day Spa is such a magical place for me. I am pleased to be a part of it.

Before I head out to what is sure to be a marvelous dinner with family, I want to remind you of the Little Red Studio's Black Friday Holiday Bazaar that will be going on tomorrow from 11am until 7pm at the Little Red Bistro and the Little Red Studio. We have so many people who are ready to put their art and hand crafted goods up for your perusal and purchase that we will be taking over the whole place!

Cheri and I will have a table for our very own spa products. There are 3 kinds of salt scrubs, massage oils, body mists and gift bags. My essential oil kit is already packed so that I can do custom oil and fragrance blends throughout the day.

Other cool stuff available: the very first LRS book of poetry, Jeff Hengst's paintings and works on paper, abstract paintings by Terry Johnson, sculptures, framed and unframed photography by Jim Duvall, jewelry by a few different artists including Kirsten Lauzon, knitted hats and scarves, metal art, hand crafted candles and glass art.

Oh! I almost forgot the tarot card readings that will be available on a first come first serve basis with Julie Hekate in the Bistro.

Little Red Studio’s Answer to Black Friday
A Holiday Bazaar
Friday, November 27th
Hours: 11AM until 7PM
Location: 400 Dexter Ave N. Seattle, WA 98109
Admission is free

Little Red Studio’s Answer to Black Friday

A Holiday Bazaar
Friday, November 27th – 11AM until 7PM

Last year’s after Thanksgiving Holiday Bazaar was so much fun, we decided that we would include other Seattle artists in on our fun this time around. The Little Red Studio is pleased to be able to offer you a beautiful venue to browse the work of more than 20 local artists and crafters. Painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelry makers, herbalists, knitters and glass artists are just a few of the artisans signed up, to give you an idea of the variety in store for you. The Little Red Day Spa will have an assortment of their custom spa products available for purchase. Services such as custom blending of massage oils and fragrances and tarot card readings will be offered throughout the day.

Of special note is the availability of the first printing of “The Little Red Anthology” which is a collection of classic Little Red Studio poetry by Eileen Fix, David Jones and all the other poets’ voices you have enjoyed over the years at shows. Many of the published poets will be on hand to sign your copy of the book and perhaps even give an impromptu reading.

The Little Red Bistro will of course be open all day to satisfy your hunger and thirst, as well as selling gift certificates.

So if you love to shop for the holidays but want to avoid the corporate marketing and retail craziness, then consider coming around and seeing the fine art, crafts, jewelry and other handmade gifts on display.

There are a few spaces left for vendors. If you are interested in joining the Little Red Studio on Friday November 27th and showing your art or hand crafted wares, please email us at lrsadmin@gmail.com or call (206)328-4758.

Hours: 11AM until 7PM
Location: 400 Dexter Ave N. Seattle, WA 98109
Admission is free

Break out the citrus oils!

Most citrus essential oils create a photo-sensitizing reaction in the skin. It is recommended that one avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds after an application of bergamot, orange, lemon, etc.. essential oils. It is for this one half of the reason that the Pomegranate Tangerine Salt Scrub is only around in late autumn and early winter. I had quite an internal struggle with the pairing of an oil with the Mango salt scrub I made last August for the first time. The Bergamot was a nice combination, but in the end I decided it was safer to go with the Geranium, which has become one of the recipes that will be repeated.

With the day's getting shorter, and what sunlight we have becoming less intense, citrus oils can be used more readily. Interestingly enough, most citrus oils have anti-depressant qualities so increased use during the winter is not only safer, but can be used to uplift mood.

My current blend for the Spa's scented massage oil is a combination of Sweet Orange, Black Pepper, Lavendar and Rosemary in a base of Grapeseed oil. This is a happy, light scent that is also great for sore muscles.

New scrub for Ladies' Night!

I had a lot of fun creating the new salt scrub. With Kerry, our office manager and LRS' theatrical director, lending her nose to the cause, the new combination is Mangoes and Geranium essential oil. While geranium can be an overly floral scent for some, the mango keeps it at bay and it makes for a heady yet mellow aroma.

On a not unrelated note, last week I got new furniture for the spa. Rearranging and sorting all of my supplies turned out to be incredibly fruitful. (No pun intended.) I found a jar of the Lime Avocado and Peppermint scrub hiding behind a few empty jars! This recipe is my favorite so far and I am excited to not have to wait until next spring or summer to make it again. This means that tonight there will be a choice of Lime or Mango salt scrubs.

Ladies' Spa Night
Drop In: 6-9pm
Cost: $15
Little Red Day Spa
1506 Franklin Ave. E. Seattle

Please remember that if you want to take advantage of the extended hours, email Sophia@HengstStudio.com or call me at 206-963-0772 by 5pm today so that arrangements can be made to have staff there until 10pm.

Next!

The Lime, Avocado and Peppermint salt scrub is running low. Time to make up a new batch. The question is, do I do the Lime again, or shall I make up a new on? Requests or the Pineapple from last year have reached my ears. Raspberries are in season right now, too. A friend from San Diego who I gave my salt scrub base recipe to emailed me the other day to say she was enjoying a mango scrub right now.

So, Lime, Pineapple, Raspberry or Mango? Feel free to cast your vote for any of these or throw another option into the mix!

Small shift in focus.

Since my discovery that sometimes frozen fruit is better than fresh when making salt scrubs, I have been moving away from using seasonal fruit in my blends. Originally, the idea was to use whatever was in season for my salt scrubs, creating a new blend every quarter. When I found out that frozen strawberries generally had more flavor that fresh ones, I made the Strawberry Ginger scrub during the winter and early spring. (Pomegranate season seemed short this year.)

Instead of cuing off the seasons, I am going to link each special spa session to the current Little Red Studio Colored Show. This Friday, the Aquamarine show will make it's debut.

This summer we will transform our sumptuous theater into a wet, sensual oasis, complete with mermaids, nymphs, sailors and pirates. Come dive into one of the most alluring elements on earth, Water. Lets splash around together in this world of sensory profusion, relaxation, healing, and spiritual reconnection.

One of the ideas to keep in the watery theme and help keep people cool is mist sprays. I created an essential oil blend of Lavender, Thyme and a few other woodsy oils that, together, are reminiscent of a fresh rain. It turned out quite lovely. So, I am pleased to announce that the I have a new scent for the massage oil for the Aquamarine Spa Session!

oil vs. lotion

You may have noticed when you are about to receive a massage at the Little Red Day Spa that we give you the option of scented or unscented oil. I do have a bottle of lotion available, but it is not a product I think to ever use. Why not, you ask? Because if I wouldn't eat something, I don't want to put it on my skin. (As a fun aside, when I was doing a bit of research, I found this web page geared toward vegetarians using this saying.)

Human skin is an amazing, multi-purpose organ. It not only keeps our insides, inside, but it also allows "things" in and out of us. Skin is quite permeable and can absorb approximately 50% of a substance applied topically in comparison to ingesting the same substance. This is why I use a cold pressed, food grade sunflower oil as a massage lubricant. And while the amount of salt I use in the scrubs makes them inedible, I use whole foods for this same reason. It doesn't hurt to think about the possibility of trace amounts of Vitamin C are being absorbed into your body while you are getting a lime and avocado scrub. also, the fat in avocados is made up of the exact kind of lipids that moisturizes our skin which helps maintain elasticity.

Feeling limey.

When I made the last salt scrub, I bought more limes than avocados in keeping with the proportions that had been decided upon. I still ended up with left over limes.

Rather than save them until the next back of scrub needs to be made, I am going to make lime water for Ladies' Night. I think that will be a fun treat since it has turned out to be a sunny day. (Remember to be careful in the sun. Drink lots of water to compensate for perspiration and evaporation.)

See you tonight!

New Summer Session available!

I finally got the next salt scrub recipe worked out and fully tested. Last week, during Ladies' Night, I put out my newest salt scrub: Fresh limes and avocados with peppermint essential oil. I was a bit worried that the limes would be overwhelming, but the consensus was that there was a good balance between the limes and peppermint.

Summer Breeze Spa Session

Feel yourself uplifted by the light scent of Peppermint while getting your feet washed and rubbed in a warm foot bath. A quick shower to get you ready to be floated into oblivion in our spacious hot tub. All your stress and worries are drained away by the swirling water and your attentive practitioner. After being deposited back on dry land, you'll enjoy a hot oil body treatment, breezily scented with Rosemary,Ginger and Lemon. Fresh Lime and Avocado Sea Salt scrub will enliven your skin, which you will shower off in our custom shower, emerging refreshed and rejuvenated.
Singles or Couples: 90 minutes - $150. 120 minutes - $200.

Spring is here!

I need to get moving on a new seasonal session!

Last year we had the Spring Cleansing Spa Session and I think I will reconfigure and polish that one up. I want to come up with a new salt scrub, though. I have been rotating through the same four recipes for the last year and a half, and while they are quite yummy, it's time for something new. One of my Ladies' Night regulars suggested limes as a main ingredient.

I'll keep you posted as soon as I decide. And, if you have a request, let me know. I might be making the next salt scrub in your honor.

Self care reminder.

How many of you work on a computer, drive or write for more than an hour a day? These three activities are the biggest culprits that cause forearm, wrist and hand tightness, pain and discomfort.

You can keep every day tension from turning into a Repetitive Stress Injury by performing any number or combination of these self-care techniques.

*Stretch. Take 30 seconds out of every hour you are working at a computer to do one or two stretches. Rotate through various stretches throughout the day. Hold stretches for 10-30 seconds.

Examples:
-Stand up and roll/shrug your shoulders in circles both forward and back.
-Bring your hands together (both palms facing and backs of hands facing) to stretch the muscles that flex and extend the wrists.
-Roll your wrists in slow circles.
-Extend elbows and gently pull fingers back and then fold fingers toward palm and pull gently.


*Strengthen. Making sure that your muscle groups are balanced can prevent the pain that results from one group of muscles becoming significantly stronger than it's counterpart, resulting in the counterpart having to work extra hard to "keep up." It also gives the main muscles you use in your work a much deserved rest.

Examples:
-Wrap a rubber band around your fingers and thumb at the second knuckle. Start with fingertips touching and spread them out so you are stretching the rubber band. Remember to open and close slowly.
-Use a very small hand weight (or water bottle, soup can, etc...) and rest your forearm on your knee or a table. Let your wrist extend from the table unsupported with your palm facing down. Extend your wrist up so that you are lifting the back of your hand up. Always move slowly.

A book I highly recommend is called Save Your Hands! by Lauriann Greene, CEAS & Richard W. Goggins, CPE, LMP. While this book is written with massage therapists in mind, almost all of the stretches, exercises and self-care techniques can be used by anyone who uses their hands for their work.

Ladies' Spa Night!

Tonight is Ladies' Night at the Little Red Day Spa!

I hope you will join me from 6 - 9pm as it is the first Monday of the month. Tonight we will have a new salt scrub. I am ushering in spring's scrub early as pomegranates are going out of season. The few I have been able to find have been small and anemic.

I also discovered the the variety of strawberries generally used for freezing are quite juicy. Add to their genetics that they are picked in their prime and then frozen gives a better flavor than I have experienced with standard grocery store fresh strawberries, since they are usually picked so that they ripen en route. Of course, local strawberries from the farmer's market are a completely different animal. I look forward when I can use those later in the year.

These nights are designed to be a casual and social evening. There will be a practitioner, usually myself, present to make you feel welcome and facilitate use of the spa's equipment. There will be areas set up for clay, salt scrubs and massage for you and your friends to pamper each other. For an extra fee, one can get a short massage or watsu during the evening from our massage therapist on staff.

Please call 206-963-0772 or e-mail Sophia@hengststudio.com for more information.

Ladies' Spa Night - 1st Monday of the Month!
Drop In: 6-9pm
Cost: $15
Little Red Day Spa
1506 Franklin Ave. E. Seattle

Please park on the street so that our parking spaces are available for guests with mobility difficulties.

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun new year celebration.

I have been having fun reorganizing the spa with this last round of renovations and yearly repairs. Be sure to take a peek at the changes next time you visit the spa. One of the changes I am excited about is the area that will be devoted to displaying spa products that will be for sale. My labels finally arrived and they look quite snazzy on the bottles.

The spa has been quite busy with sessions, too, so please be understanding if we are booked if you call for a same or next day appointment.

Back from the holidays!

So much has been happening here at the spa. Here is a quick synopsis.

~We had another round of renovations, which induced a bit of rearranging and reorganization. Soon, the piano will be moved out of the spa and our changing area will be more like a changing room!

~The Open Spa Nights were canceled, but new ideas are forming for a another event. One of the dancers at Little Red Studio has the idea of having a blues dance lesson for couples during a spa night. She and I are still working out the details. Keep tuned to our newsletter, hopefully we'll be ready to host this evening around Valentine's Day.

~The spa products that were for sale at the Little Red Studio's Holiday Bazaar are going to become a regular offering at the Spa and the Studio. You will be able buy salt scrub, bath salts, massage oil, among other things, at both locations. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me and supported me in developing these products. Your feedback and noses were very valuable!

~The Little Red Day Spa is going to have a presence at the Little Red Studio shows! If you went to the Saffron Show, you experienced the Touch tent where people delighted your skin with feathers, faux furs, honey dust and massage. It was so well received and so much fun for us, that it will soon become a staple of the Gold and other Coloured show. I am looking for more tactile activities, so, if you have a suggestion, please feel free to offer it up the next time you see me or via email.

The New Year's Eve Party will have a "Touch Tent" with all of the above and I have just been contacted by our resident Yogini, Mishabae, offering to teach people yoga postures for couples and some of her yummy "Thai Yogassage" tricks!

Spa product announcement!

So, this is a recall, of sorts.

One of the batches of Strawberry Salt Scrub I made to sell at the Little Red Studio Bazaar was made with a different salt than I normally use. Upon being exposed to air, this batch turns darker in color, a brownish purple. It's not going rancid, just changing color.

I have been using it in the spa and watching it over the last week. The smell and consistency have remained pleasant. It's just not pretty and that is unacceptable to me. If you bought the Strawberry Salt scrub in the small jars, please contact me at (206) 963-0772 or email Sophia@hengstStudio.com and I will make arrangements with you to replace the scrub. (Make sure to keep the jar so I can refill it for you.)

*Reminder: The salt scrub product does separate.It is normal for liquid to pool at the top. Mix thoroughly before each use.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My your day be filled with all the things and people you are thankful for!

I hope to see you tomorrow at the Little Red Studio's Bazaar. Come say "hi" and smell all the yummy things I have been making!

With so many amazing artists in our community here at Little Red Studio, we thought it might be a great idea to let them set up shop on the day after Thanksgiving! So if you love to shop for the holidays but want to avoid the corporate marketing and retail craziness, then consider coming around and seeing the fine art, crafts, jewelry and other handmade gifts on display.

We'll offer a cozy place to hang out, enjoy a dessert and coffee or hot chocolate, and of course shop for something special for yourself or others in your life.

Holiday Bazaar
Friday, November 28th - 12 Noon until 9PM
Hours: 12 Noon until 9PM
Location: 400 Dexter Ave N.
Admission is free

Little Red Day Spa Price List

Day Spa Kit - $50 (Includes scrub, oil, bubble bath, towel, salts, soap & candle.)

Salt Scrub - Large: $15
Small: $5

Massage Oil - Large: $12
Medium: $8
Small: $4

Bubble Bath - Large: $10
Small: $4

Body Mist - $8

Exfoliation Towel - $5

Bath Salts - $12

Soap - $5 per bar

Gift certificates - $80, $150 and up (Includes card and free bar of soap with purchase.)

Little Red Day Spa products for sale!

Many people have asked about buying my salt scrubs and essential oil blends so I am very excited about having some of my hand made spa products available for sale the day after Thanksgiving. The Little Red Studio is having a Holiday Bazaar on Friday, November 28th, at the new gallery located at 400 Dexter Ave. N. from 12pm until 9PM.

Here's what I am going to have out for you to choose from:

~3 different Salt Scrubs, Pomegranate Tangerine, Strawberry Vanilla Ginger and Pear Lemon Rosemary.

~Massage/body oils with various essential oils (blends for sore muscles, relaxing, etc...)

~Bath Salts, my special blend mixed with essential oils and fresh herbs.

~Day Spa Kits, includes salt scrub, bath salts, body/massage oil, bubble bath, hand crafted Soap from Suzanne, a beeswax votive candle and a special treat from Chef Kim.

~Custom essential oil blends for massage oil, perfume, air fresheners, and body mists. (I'll have my aromatherapy kit with me.

If there is anything else that we use in the spa you would be interested in, please send me an email: Sophia at HengstStudio.com.

Holiday Bazaar
Friday, November 28th - 12 Noon until 9PM

With so many amazing artists in our community here at Little Red Studio, we thought it might be a great idea to let them set up shop on the day after Thanksgiving! So if you love to shop for the holidays but want to avoid the corporate marketing and retail craziness, then consider coming around and seeing the fine art, crafts, jewelry and other handmade gifts on display.

We'll offer a cozy place to hang out, enjoy a desset and coffee or hot chocolate, and of course shop for something special for yourself or others in your life.

Hours: 12 Noon until 9PM
Location: 400 Dexter Ave N.
Admission is free

Mmmm... Vanilla!

I splurged and bought fresh vanilla beans. I have never been in possession of such a delectable, potent smelling substance. When I made the change to real vanilla extract after growing up in a family that only used the imitation vanilla extract, I thought that was heavenly. This far surpasses that in aroma.

In honor of these beans, I bought a brand new herb mill. (in reality, it's an electric coffee bean grinder.) After cutting open the pods and scraping out the seeds, I popped the pods into the mill with another whole bean and added them to a strawberry ginger salt scrub. The seeds and one whole other bean chopped up were deposited in a bottle of extra virgin olive oil to make a scented massage oil. Oh my, this is going to be truly decadent.

Two beans I put out to dry and I have yet to decide what to do with the other 5 beans. Do I make more product? Do I cook with them? Can I afford to buy more? Such wonderful dilemmas!

Hmmmmm... Soap

I travel up to Bellingham a few times a month, and I have been buying soap from a woman named Suzanne, who has a booth in the Saturday market, for well over a year now. They are delicious smelling and the texture is amazing. The first time I purchased soap, Suzanne made to to tell me to let it cure for another day or two by leaving it on a shelf. She said the longer I left it out in the air, the longer the bar would last once I began using it. I took her advice and was pleased that as I made my way through the small stack of bars, doing foot baths and foot massages, the longer each one lasted.

I finally took the plunge and ordered a whole log of soap, which amounts to 26 inches in length! I picked the Good Karma Soap and the Sparklin' Spearmint Soap. I also got a sample of the Put Me In The Zoo Soap. How could I resist this:

Everything's in this bar but the kitchen sink! Big chunks of all our soaps are put through a meat grinder and come out as soap noodles. These noodles are put in a huge bowl and fresh soap scented with Orange, Mandarin, Litsea, Tangerine and Peppermint botanical oils and a generous amount of Clay Beads is poured over it. We thoroughly mix the soap, slam it in molds and cure it for 4 loooong weeks. The resulting soap smells great and it feels crazy good on the skin.

If you would rather have a bar of Spearmint soap instead of the liquid body wash in the shower, just let me know! It's a real treat!

Ladies' Night is going to be smelly!

Well, not is a bad way. I am working on an art installation utilizing aromas. I am hoping that while I work on making different blends, I can get feedback about each one. I also want to try out a system for delivering the scent so that only the person doing the smelling gets a whiff. I am hoping that I can keep the "smell noise" down to a minimum so that it can be used in public where chemical or smell sensitive people can be in the same room as the installation.

Ladies' Spa Night - Every Monday!
Drop In: 6-9pm
Cost: $15
Little Red Day Spa
1506 Franklin Ave. E. Seattle

Please leave the parking spots in the lot for those with mobility difficulties. Thank you!